The recent success of luxury vinyl tile (LVT) in the commercial market is driving makers to create larger formats, unique designs and focus much more on color than they do for residential.

“The commercial LVT channel is an entirely different beast than the residential side. Architects and designers are looking for colors and designs that are outside the conventional and in larger plank and tile sizes. These unique looking, larger LVTs create the desired ambiance while allowing installation crews to get the job done more efficiently,” said Michael Lang, senior marketing manager, Karndean Designflooring.

Case in point is Karndean’s new Opus Collection. Designed exclusively with the commercial market in mind, the line features a distinctive blend of multi-colored rustic metallic visuals in interchangeable 6” x 36” and 18” x 36” formats.

“The Opus visual is unique, there’s nothing to compare it to, but specifiers are drawn to it aesthetically and they like the ability to get creative with different but corresponding sizes,” added Lang.

Large format commercial LVT wood visuals have now become the preferred flooring for restaurants, retail and grocery stores, according Diana Borders, principal designer, commercial flooring, Armstrong.

“The retail segment is now the fastest growing segment we’re involved in and it has gravitated to our much wider 9” x 48” rustic wood visuals. Wider and longer just looks more realistic and these settings have the space to portray them properly. A plank that large might not look right in a home, but in a large retail space they get an upscale look that’s easy to maintain,” she said.

Metroflor has found success tapping into the same trend offering wood visuals in 6” x 48”, 7.5” x 48” and 8.6” x 48” LVT planks, according to Russell Rogg, president and CEO.

“It’s not just about having the larger sizes though. It’s important to have colors specifically for the commercial market. We have the light and natural oaks and maples but we found when you transition to grays and chocolates they work really well for retail, hospitality and corporate environments,” he said.

Amtico is finding success with the unique direction its new Quill pattern has taken by portraying rustic wood visuals in a weaved format.

“Amtico took wood and put it in a different orientation than architects and designers have ever seen before. We just launched it and we’re already getting a lot of requests for samples,” said David Sheehan, vice president of commercial LVT, Mannington Commercial/Amtico.

On the commercial LVT tile front, products are not only getting larger but there is a definite push toward rectangular formats, particularly in 8” x 16”, 12” x 24” and 18” x 36” formats, according to insiders.

“We launched a 12” x 24” Konecto with a linear stone pattern specifically to address this new commercial trend,” said Rogg. “The rectangular tile format also features a micro-beveled edge to further delineate from tile to tile, which we recommend for a stagger or brick-like installation.”

While these new larger and rectangular formats stand on their own, the real appeal for designers is the ability to mix and match them, said Allen Cubell, vice president of resilient product management, Armstrong.

“We definitely see 12” x 24” standing on its own but the nice thing about having 8” x 16” and 8” x 8” is that you can combine them for a nice modular design,” said Cubell.

Color is king

After years of natural and neutral color predominance, specifiers are demanding more color to help retailers, hospitals and corporations stand out and attract customers and employees, said Armstrong’s Borders.

“After so many years of neutrals, it’s exciting to see the requests pouring in not just for more color, but colors that pop,” she said. “Today, we have so many choices for where to shop, eat, get medical attention and go to school. All of these settings are now using color to make people want to be in their space.”

Centiva has taken this emerging trend to the extreme with the launch of Brites, a collection of both bright neon and black-light responsive LVTs available in a wide range of sizes of up to 36” x 36”.

“Brites will get your attention. That’s exactly what it was designed to do. And that’s why designers turn to Centiva. They want one-of-a-kind products like this that stand out from a crowd,” said Erin Dempsey, public relations and manager of environmental strategy, Centiva.

As contrast, but also as an emerging major commercial trend, are abstract concrete visuals, according to Armstrong’s Borders.

“Retailers always want to stain the concrete they have and it looks beautiful for about a month and then they have maintenance issues. Now specifiers have realized they can get the same if not better visual in vinyl and have it for 10 years,” said Borders.